Hi, I am Augie. This is my blog about animals and their guardians, homeless pets and happy endings. About rescue, companion animal health and well being, and information for people who want to make a better world for animals. Please join me in conversations while we share our stories, advice and tips. Love Augie

Friday, 17 May 2013

"Every shelter that kills drives people into the arms of the commercial pet trade. In the final analysis, it is high kill shelters, pounds SPCA, HSUS, the ASPCA, PETA, and those who support them which benefit commercial breeding when they fight No Kill because shelter reform not only saves lives, it makes shelters safe for animal lovers to both work at and adopt from".

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Shelter Killing Benefits Puppy Mills

If pounds and shelters marketed their animals and promoted adoption breeders and mills would be out of business in short order.
There are no responsible breeders while animals are dying in pounds and shelters. Please support the anti puppy mill movement in progress by Kismutt's Kimberly Thomas of St Mary's Ontario Canada

Tuesday, 26 March 2013

On Behalf of Kimberly Thomas from Kismutt Rescue please read and act on this:Please read this notification from Kimberly of Kismutt Rescue. It only takes a minute to write an email that might help prevent a terrible wrong from happening.

Calling on ALL Ontario Residents & Animal Advocates!

As you may or may not be aware, the Ontario Land Owners Association and MPP Jack MacLaren are demanding that the OSPCA be stripped of their powers to seize animals and lay charges. This would be a disaster for all animals in Ontario, whether it be livestock or domestic animals. The Ontario Land Owner’s Association, backed by MPP Jack MacLare...n, is lobbying our Agricultural Minister, Kathleen Wynne, to have farmers and Land Owners exempt from the OSPCA & MNR (Ministry of Natural Resources). This is happening right now as I type this email to you! This is of the utmost importance.

I am asking each and every one of you to email a letter to Honourable Kathleen Wynne, and tell her that under NO circumstances should farmers and land owners be exempt from the OSPCA & MNR.

Tell Honourable Kathleen Wynne that we, as Ontario citizens, have fought for years to bring our animal welfare laws up to where they are today, and that we stand firm behind the powers of the OSPCA to lay charges and sieze animals as needed. Tell her to NOT support MPP Jack MacLaren and his radical Land Owners Association members.

Please be sure to make this an OPEN LETTER addressing it to Honourable Kathleen Wynne, and not only email her, but also the

Ontario Farmers Magazine and Ontario Farmers Forum. Here are the 3 email addresses you will send this letter to:

Saturday, 8 December 2012

As a shelter manager, I am going to share a little insight with you all - a view from the inside, if you will. Maybe if you saw the life drain from a few sad, lost, confused eyes, you would change your mind about breeding and selling to people you don't even know - that puppy you just sold will most likely end up in my shelter when it's not a cute little puppy anymore.

How would you feel if you knew that there's about a 90% chance that dog will never walk out of the shelter it is going to be dumped at - purebred or not! About 50% of all of the dogs that are "owner surrenders" or "strays" that come into my shelter are purebred dogs. No shortage of excuses The most common excuses I hear are: We are moving and we can't take our dog (or cat). Really? Where are you moving to that doesn't allow pets? The dog got bigger than we thought it would. How big did you think a German Shepherd would get? We don't have time for her. Really? I work a 10-12 hour day and still have time for my 6 dogs! She's tearing up our yard. How about bringing her inside, making her a part of your family?

They always tell me: We just don't want to have to stress about finding a place for her. We know she'll get adopted - she's a good dog. Odds are your pet won't get adopted, and how stressful do you think being in a shelter is? Well, let me tell you. Dead pet walking! Your pet has 72 hours to find a new family from the moment you drop it off, sometimes a little longer if the shelter isn't full and your dog manages to stay completely healthy. If it sniffles, it dies.

Your pet will be confined to a small run / kennel in a room with about 25 other barking or crying animals. It will have to relieve itself where it eats and sleeps. It will be depressed and it will cry constantly for the family that abandoned it. If your pet is lucky, I will have enough volunteers that day to take him / her for a walk. If I don't, your pet won't get any attention besides having a bowl of food slid under the kennel door and the waste sprayed out of its pen with a high-powered hose. If your dog is big, black or any of the "bully" breeds (pit bull, rottweiler, mastiff, etc) it was pretty much dead when you walked it through the front door. Those dogs just don't get adopted. If your dog doesn't get adopted within its 72 hours and the shelter is full, it will be destroyed.

If the shelter isn't full and your dog is good enough, and of a desirable enough breed, it may get a stay of execution, though not for long. Most pets get very kennel protective after about a week and are destroyed for showing aggression. Even the sweetest dogs will turn in this environment. If your pet makes it over all of those hurdles, chances are it will get kennel cough or an upper respiratory infection and will be destroyed because shelters just don't have the funds to pay for even a $100 treatment.

The grim reaper: Here's a little euthanasia 101 for those of you that have never witnessed a perfectly healthy, scared animal being "put-down". First, your pet will be taken from its kennel on a leash. They always look like they think they are going for a walk - happy, wagging their tails. That is, until they get to "The Room".

Every one of them freaks out and puts on the brakes when we get to the door. It must smell like death, or they can feel the sad souls that are left in there. It's strange, but it happens with every one of them. Your dog or cat will be restrained, held down by 1 or 2 vet techs (depending on their size and how freaked out they are). A euthanasia tech or a vet will start the process. They find a vein in the front leg and inject a lethal dose of the "pink stuff". Hopefully your pet doesn't panic from being restrained and jerk it's leg. I've seen the needles tear out of a leg and been covered with the resulting blood, and been deafened by the yelps and screams.

They all don't just "go to sleep" - sometimes they spasm for a while, gasp for air and defecate on themselves. When it all ends, your pet's corpse will be stacked like firewood in a large freezer in the back, with all of the other animals that were killed, waiting to be picked up like garbage.

What happens next? Cremated? Taken to the dump? Rendered into pet food? You'll never know, and it probably won't even cross your mind. It was just an animal, and you can always buy another one, right?

Liberty, freedom and justice for all I hope that those of you that have read this are bawling your eyes out and can't get the pictures out of your head. I do everyday on the way home from work. I hate my job, I hate that it exists and I hate that it will always be there unless people make some changes and realize that the lives you are affecting go much farther than the pets you dump at a shelter.

Between 9 and 11 MILLION animals die every year in shelters and only you can stop it. I do my best to save every life I can but rescues are always full, and there are more animals coming in everyday than there are homes. My point to all of this is DON'T BREED OR BUY WHILE SHELTER PETS DIE!

Hate me if you want to - the truth hurts and reality is what it is. I just hope I maybe changed one person's mind about breeding their dog, taking their loving pet to a shelter, or buying a dog. I hope that someone will walk into my shelter and say "I saw this thing on craigslist and it made me want to adopt". That would make it all worth it."

This common toxin is known to cause acute kidney failure even when
consumed in small amounts. Some of the first signs noticed may include: Lethargy,
weakness, and increased drinking/urination. Immediate emergency
treatment is required following ingestion of antifreeze.Antifreeze poisoning can be fatal.Keep out of the reach of pets and children.

Chocolate - No chocolate (or coffee gift
packs) under the tree!

Keep all
chocolate away from our furry friends, especially dark or baking chocolate. The
seriousness of the reaction depends on the amount and type of chocolate
consumed and size of the pet.Increased thirst,
vomiting, restlessness and seizures are among the signs to watch for.

Foreign Objects/Decorations

Toys, ribbon,
tree ornaments- all of these items can get stuck within the intestinal tract of
pets. – Often requiring emergency surgery. Take a minute to ensure your home is
pet proof

Grapes and Raisins (and Onions are a no
no too!)

Unfortunately,
these sweet treats can cause kidney failure and sometimes death in our pets

Macadamia nuts

There is an
unidentified toxin in these nuts that causes weak legs incoordination and vomiting.Ingestion is not usually fatal but is stressful for both pet and owner.

Poinsettia

The most
traditional Christmas plant, poinsettias will cause vomiting and diarrhea if
eaten.Protect your pet and put these
plants out of reach or do not bring them into the house.

Mistletoe

Ingestion of
Mistletoe can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Left overs/turkey/stuffing/fruitcake

Feeding
holiday left overs to our pets sure is tempting; however, sudden changes in
diets can cause diarrhea and vomiting. High fat and sugar and toxic onions in
turkey and stuffing can make your pet very ill. Do not give in to the begging.
Give doggy treats to the doggies and keep food out of reach to avoid “Christmas
belly” in your pet.

Sugar Free Gum

Sugar free
gum contains Xylitol, an artificial sweetener. Xylitol fools the body into
thinking the blood sugar is high and the body responds by secreting excess
insulin. This can lead to a potentially fatal sudden drop in blood sugar. If
you suspect your pet has consumed sugar free gum – see a vet immediately. Keep the purses and coats of your guests out
of reach. Dogs steal these treats from purses and coat pockets!

Sunday, 18 November 2012

Hello,
My topic tonight is puppy mill dogs. There is no good reason to ever buy a dog from a pet store - read puppy mill. The breeder dogs are treated like livestock, caged for their entire lives , never feeling the warmth and love of a human touch, the grass beneath their feet , the sun on their faces or the freedom to run. Thet receive no love and minimal if any vet care. Please do not promote this cruelty with your dollars. Adopt your pet.
Read the story of Lily and the inception of the National Mill Dog Rescue. Theresa Strader will give you inspiration.

Please check this link to learn the truth behind puppy mills and so called responsible breeders.

Sunday, 23 September 2012

Hi Everyone, Meet Penny.

She is a 5 year old shitz/jack cross from a puppy mill. She has just joined Jack Russell Terrier Rescue When asked why we foster, she is one of many reasons. Kissmutt rescue brought her in, and asked JRTRO to help out. Had she not been taken in she would have been shot. You see, her usefulness at a mill is only as a breeder machine.

Please think about this when tempted to buy puppies from pet shops or back yard breeders. She is 5 years old and has never known the gentle touch of a human until now.

She is surprisingly gentle and trusting although timid just now and will find a great new life in a great new home because of the work that Rescue does. Two rescues came together to help this girl.

Your new best friend may be waiting for you at a rescue and you will have given a homeless dog hope, life, and happiness. In return they give you joy and unconditional love. These little beings are not throwaways or cash machines!
Pet Store Fact ~ Pet Store Puppies and their parents are not screened for genetic disorders. The parents are bred in mills regardless of hereditary orthopedic problems, such as hip dysplasia or ophthalmic diseases. The parents are simply 'puppy machines' bred over and over again for profit and the female is bred until her body just gives up approx by the age of 5 years

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About Me

The pupose of my blog is to raise awareness about the many companion animals in need of rescue. It is a myth that there are too many animals. We need to market homeless animals more aggressively and make adoption easier. Never buy while shelter animals die. Adopt a pet. Be a hero.